The MSR Dragonfly stove

The Dragonfly stove is a white gas stove that is a powerhouse of a stove. It is just the ticket for melting snow for a group, and for big cooking jobs. It weighs in at 11 5/8 oz, and the fuel flask full of fuel is about the same weight. Its definitely not ultralight, but it puts out enough heat that you can use a large pot or fry pan.

It has a big footprint, but it folds up quite a bit smaller.

Unlike compressed gas stoves, it will work in the coldest winter temperatures. In winter you put some fire paste in the flame cup, light it and let it burn off, then turn on the gas valve, and its a noisy blow torch. The fuel efficiency is surprising, making it great for melting snow. It can also simmer very nicely. I used it to melt snow for 3 people on Mt. Shasta, and we were amazed at how little fuel we used.

In the winter you can use a snow attachment, shown below, and a windscreen. Below its being used to make some coffee, and below that its on fish frying duty. You can’t do either on the Jetboil.

My Dragonfly is about 20 years old, and still going strong after I overhauled it. The overhaul consisted of replaceing O rings, 17 of them, and two filters. MSR sells a rebuild kit for about $45.

It sells for about $180 now, well worth it for winter camping or group cooking. The fuel canister is extra.